The Steelhead Angler

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In the Northwest, the rise and fall of river water levels more then any other factor determines the number of winter steelhead that are on the move. It will influence where they will be located, and determine which fishing method will produce the best results.

Float Fishing: Usually the best way to fish in low and slow moving river currents.

Being able to feel when a steelhead strikes is the secret to catching steelhead not only in the Northwest but also through out their range. However, a growing numbers of steelhead anglers are finding success by switching to their eyes. Float fishing will out-produce any other method when stream water levels are at their lowest and the water is crystal-clear. When fish hold in slow-moving water, it is extremely difficult to drift fish these area effectively. Float fishing is also a good way for fishing current edges or seams. These edges are a favorite place for steelhead to rest during their upstream migration.

Baitcasting reels combined with 9-to 10-foot medium-light or medium-power rods are the most popular. You may find that a spinning reel works better under certain conditions such as when casting light rigging. In addition, although monofilaments work, the super-lines, such as Fire-Line, float and make line mending easier. (Mending your line means that when the river current starts create bow in your line you pick up the line to remove this bow.)

You also need a selection of steelhead floats (long, thin types work best), split shot or egg sinkers, single hooks ranging in size m 2/0 to 2, and an assortment of jigs or baits. Although you can use cured salmon or steelhead egg clusters, many anglers employ a steelhead jig (this becomes necessary in crystal-clear water), or a scent-enhanced imitation egg cluster, steelhead worm or shrimp when the river has a little color.

When rigging, position the float so your bait rides two-thirds of the way to the river bottom. Since these fish typically lie in water five to eight feet deep, this will position your offering within easy reach, yet reduce hang-ups. Remember that fish cannot see below them.

Side Drifting or Back Drifting: from a boat is a good technique when fishing a river with medium to low flows.

Where boat access is available side, drifting is a popular way of presenting your bait. Anglers make parallel casts upstream of the drift boat or jet boat, while the operator backs the craft downstream at the same speed or a slightly slower speed of the river this way the line maintains an upstream angle.

Because you are moving with the current, it will typically take a small amount of weight to keep the bait near bottom. Many anglers employ a three to five shot slinky, one to three split shot or an inch of 1/8-inch pencil weight. Baits include small egg clusters, a drift-bobber like a Corky Drifter, and scented steelhead worms are becoming popular as well.

To facilitate easy casting and cushion the blows from hard-fighting fish, 9- to 10-foot light- to medium-power rod and reel outfit. You will want to use 10 to 12 pound monofilament line and 24 to 40 Inch fluorocarbon leaders the fluorocarbon lines are harder for the fish to see. When a steelhead hits, the bite is normally quite hard and requires little or no hook set. Using this technique the steelhead hook them self when they take the bait. You can just lift the rod up and start playing the steelhead.

Drift Fishing: This technique works best after rains when rivers are falling.
This drift fishing presentation works best in higher river flows; this is a good method to use when river levels are dropping after a rainstorm when the river starts to come back to a fishable condition. These conditions are when the winter steelhead is often the most abundant and mobile. The more fish you have on the move the better your chances of getting your line in front of ones nose.

Fishing from shore or a boat, you cast your rigged outfit, consisting of weight, 18 to 24 inch leader, drift bobber, imitation egg cluster or shrimp, across and slightly upstream. Since steelhead lie on or just off the bottom, use just enough weight so the rig taps the bottom every few yards. You do not want you bait to drag the bottom for two reasons one is that fish cannot see below them and the second is that if you are dragging the bottom you are going to be snagging all the time.

You will want to hold your rod tip about 25 to 30 degrees off the water and follow along you need to see and feel what is happening. Despite the fish’s strength and size, you can expect a bite to be nearly imperceptible. If your rigging stops or hesitates, or you notice that, your line makes a sudden yet gentle swirl set the hook hard.

Use a medium-to-medium-heavy, eight or eight ½-foot rod; combined with baitcasting reels and 10 to 15 pound line and do not forget the fluorocarbon leaders for this technique.

Much like the picture above, while you are Steelhead fishing it is very helpful to have both, patience and wisdom.You arrive at your fishing spot, you want to charge right down, and get started fishing. That may not be the best option for a number of reasons. Charging right in could make your whole day unpleasant.

Take some time to look over the area, has it changed any since your last visit. Is there someone already fishing from your favorite rock? Has the ground been covered with snow or ice, or has it rained making the trail down to your fishing area slick and muddy. May be the river level has changed so much that the hole you fished a couple of days ago is not even there now. Any of these items may ruin your day if they catch you off guard.

I always like to look around the area before I jump into something that I was not expecting. Perhaps like the dog above I had to be burned a few times before I learned to do this before I start fishing.

It has always been easier for me to read the river when I am standing above the river then it is to try to read it when I am at the rivers edge. The seams will stand out, normally I can tell where the deeper portions are, and I can see rocks that are submerged that I would not see otherwise.

If some one is fishing there, I like to watch and see how they are fishing, where they are fishing, and if they are having any luck. I have fished several holes over the years from the same rock not knowing that had I moved up or down steam some I could have caught twice as many steelhead. By watching other you can learn a lot about a river, steelhead, and where and how to fish them. Spending ten minutes watching someone else, fish could save you hour’s maybe even days of trial and error.

Having the patience’s to look around, watch, and learn from other will gain you some wisdom that may help you become successful at steelhead fishing. Of course having lots of luck never hurt either.

Steelhead fishing in Oregon, Washington and Idaho has some of the finest steelhead fishing found anywhere in the world.  The abundant rivers and rainfall that frequent the Pacific Northwest coast provides for ideal steelhead and salmon fishing opportunities.  Just about any time of year, a steelhead angler can find an opportunity to pursue steelhead.  Idaho thanks to the Snake, Clearwater, and Salmon Rivers offers the angler fishing opportunities from August through the end of April. 

Steelheads are the most sought after game fish here in the Northwest and possibly the world.  There are some excellent runs of native fish that angler can fish for along the coastline.  These native fish are on a catch and release basis only however. 

     Most rivers in Oregon and Washington have both Summer Steelhead and Winter Steelhead.  The summer run fish begin arriving in the spring and stay in the rivers until the next winter when they spawn and head back to the ocean.  These summer fish are very aggressive and will take lures, flies, bait and most anything, that is presented to them.  The summer steelhead when they come back into the rivers are aggressive feeders and they actually revert back to the behaviors of a big rainbow trout as they live in the rivers for many months before actually spawning. 

Fishing for these fish can be very exciting as they are very acrobatic and jump frequently and are very strong fighting fish.  The summer fish are a very colorful fish with similar markings to a trout.  One exception is the metallic looking head and the big red stripe down the side.  Steelheads are also much bigger than a trout.  Winter Steelhead begin coming into the rivers in the late fall usually with the first good rainfall.  The first to arrive are the hatchery fish, which traditionally begin to show around thanksgiving on some rivers with the bulk of the runs occurring from Christmas to mid January. 

The native fish usually come in later beginning in February and continuing until April or so.  These winter fish are chrome bright as they enter the rivers and will be a dark blue on the back with bright silver white sides. 

The winter steelheads are not as aggressive biters as the summer fish and can be quite challenging to catch.  These fish are coming in to spawn and they usually do this quickly after entering the fresh water.  Because they do begin to discolor quickly and begin there spawning activity almost immediately after entering there home rivers it is very important to be on the river in the right spot at the right time with the right river conditions to be able to catch a beautiful chrome bright winter steelhead.  It is a very good idea to go with someone that knows the river well or hire a guide if you wish to have good success on the winter fish.  

Idaho anglers are somewhat limited as compared to the opportunities of the coastal fisheries.  However, Idaho does provide some great steelhead fishing.  The Clearwater River is world renowned for its B-Run steelhead, which are some of the largest fish found any where in the world.  Thanks to the efforts off the national fisheries service and hatcheries one the Clearwater there are plenty of fish for the angler to search out. 

    The Steelhead is one of the most popular game fish in the world and for that reason when the fishing is good expect some company while fishing for them.

Native steelhead can get quite large with fish in the 20-pound or larger being common.  On occasion, the angler will catch a 30 pound plus fish as well.  The Northwest has many hatchery steelhead programs designed to allow the angler to catch and keep some of these fine eating fish as well.  The hatchery fish usually do not get as large as the natives do.  However, it still is common for an angler to hook into a 20 plus pound hatchery steelhead. 

There are many organizations dedicated to improving salmon, trout and steelhead habitat through out the Northwest.  These organizations are working to improve the fishing publics’ opportunity to catch them.  As a steelhead angler, it would be in your best interest to support these local organizations.  They do some fine work protecting and preserving this fabulous resource for all of us to enjoy. 

Oregon and Washington have several “Brood stock Programs” in progress which are designed to allow the Steelhead in there native river to pass on there genes to the hatchery programs.  These are very good programs and allow the native fish of a particular river to remain genetically pure without the influence of hatchery fish from another river to interbreed with them.  This allows the steelhead angler to keep a hatchery fish that is actually from wild stock.  I encourage you to support any and all of these efforts to preserve this very important fishing resource.